The Chamber of Labor (CSL) accuses the government of losing sight of what is at stake: the well-being of the children.

Last year the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the Luxembourg child benefit scheme discriminates against cross-border commuters. Adjustment processes have been going on since then, but CSL President Nora Back has already criticized the proposed solutions: “In order to solve the discrimination problem, the government is now withdrawing benefits from the residents of adopted children and no longer from those of partners with whom one lives together.”

Back criticizes the government’s arguments for the adjustment: “You basically admit that the measure will not cause any significant damage to the residents, since most of the children affected have at least one birth parent who lives and works in Luxembourg.”

Around 350 children would be affected by this new regulation. CSL assumes that this will certainly lead to new lawsuits at the ECJ. An interim solution is urgently needed, stressed Back.

The CSL President also stated that a retrospective indexation of child benefit was necessary, as this had not happened since 2006. They believe a 7.7% compensation rate will be enough to help families make up for the losses they suffered between 2014 and 2022.